Spring assisted jumping bicycle

Abstract

The present invention is a bicycle having a frame capable of flexing under downward force so that when downward force is applied a front spring assembly and a rear spring assembly are able to store and release the energy allowing the bike to jump in the air. The spring assemblies of the present invention use bow springs made from fiberglass/epoxy, graphite/epoxy, or fiberglass/nylon instead of traditional coil springs. The bow springs allow the spring assemblies to return a greater amount of energy than their coil spring counterparts while keeping overall weight of the spring assembly down.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A bicycle comprising: a two-piece frame defined by a front end and a rear end, said front end coupled to a front wheel assembly having a front wheel, at least a portion of the front wheel assembly being slidably moveable to permit said front wheel to move vertically in relation to said front end of said frame, said front wheel assembly including a front axle to permit rotation of said front wheel, and said rear end having a pivot attached to said front end and a rotatable rear wheel mounted to said rear end of said frame;
 at least one bow spring having an upper end pivotally attached to said front wheel assembly and a lower end pivotally attached to said front wheel assembly, said at least one bow spring bendable to store potential energy when a downward force is applied to said frame; and 
 at least one rear spring located a distance from said pivot, said at least one rear spring having a first end secured to said front end of said frame and a second end secured to said rear end of said frame, said at least one rear spring being compressible and configured to store potential energy when a downward force is applied to said frame; 
 wherein a downward force applied on said front and rear ends of said frame induces said at least one bow spring and at least one rear spring to store potential energy, whereby removal of the downward force on said front and rear ends of said frame results in a release of said potential energy and propels said frame vertical such that said bicycle jumps into the air. 
 
     
     
       2. The bicycle according to  claim 1 , wherein said front wheel assembly includes a steering fork having an upper end coupled to said front end of said frame and a lower end juxtaposed to said front axle, a front axle mount bracket for securing said front wheel and said lower end of said at least one bow spring to said steering fork, said front axle mount bracket being movable along a length of said steering fork, and said upper end of said at least one bow spring being pivotally attached to said upper end of said steering fork and said lower end of said at least one bow spring being pivotally attached to said front axle mount bracket. 
     
     
       3. The bicycle according to  claim 1 , wherein said front wheel assembly includes an extendable steering fork having an upper end coupled to said front end of said frame and a lower end coupled to said front axle, said steering fork including an upper bracket, a left front bracket coupled to said front axle on a left side of said front axle, a right front bracket coupled to said front axle on a right side of said front axle, a left inner cylinder, a left outer cylinder, a right inner cylinder, a right outer cylinder, wherein said right inner cylinder and said right outer cylinder are slidably coupled with each other and said left inner cylinder and said left outer cylinder are slidably coupled with each other, and wherein said at least one bow spring comprises a left front bow spring and a right front bow spring, wherein a lower end of said left front bow spring is mechanically coupled to said left front bracket and an upper end of said left front bow spring is mechanically coupled to said upper bracket and a lower end of said right front bow spring is mechanically coupled to said right front bracket and an upper end of said right front bow spring is mechanically coupled to said upper bracket. 
     
     
       4. The bicycle according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one bow spring is made of fiberglass/epoxy material. 
     
     
       5. The bicycle according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one bow spring is made of graphite/epoxy material. 
     
     
       6. The bicycle according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one bow spring is made of fiberglass/nylon material. 
     
     
       7. The bicycle according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one rear spring comprises a steel coil spring that is greater than 6 inches in length and less than 12 inches in length. 
     
     
       8. The bicycle according to  claim 1 , wherein said front wheel assembly includes a left fork tube and a right fork tube, a left and a right lower tube and a support arc, at least one left roller, at least one right roller, at least one left roller bracket and at least one right roller bracket, said left and right fork tubes each having a top end and a bottom end, said top ends of said left and right fork tubes attached to a top spring bracket, said right and left lower tubes having a top end secured to said support arc and each having a lower end attached to a lower spring bracket, said at least one left roller secured within said at least one left roller bracket, said at least one left roller bracket secured to said left lower tube and configured to slidably connect said left lower tube to said left fork tube, said at least one right roller secured within said at least one right roller bracket, said at least one right roller bracket secured to said right lower tube and configured to slidably connect said right lower tube to said right fork tube. 
     
     
       9. The bicycle according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one rear spring comprises a left rear spring and a right rear spring each having a first end and a second end, wherein said second end of said left rear spring is coupled to a left rear wheel bracket mounted on said rear end of said frame and said first end of said left rear spring is coupled to a left seat bracket mounted on said front end of said frame, and wherein said second end of said right rear spring is coupled to a right rear wheel bracket mounted on said rear end of said frame and said first end of said right rear spring is coupled to a right seat bracket mounted on said front end of said frame. 
     
     
       10. The bicycle according to  claim 9 , wherein said left and right rear springs are bow springs. 
     
     
       11. A bicycle fork configured to be attached to a bicycle, the bicycle fork comprising: a steering tube having a top end and a bottom end; an upper bracket coupled to the bottom end of said steering tube; a right tube and a left tube each having a top end and a bottom end, said top end of said right and left tubes connected to said upper bracket; a U-shaped base arc having a right lower housing, a left lower housing and a top arc connecting said right and left lower housings, said bottom ends of said right and left tubes slidably connected to said right lower housing and said left lower housing, respectively, such that said right and left tubes are slidable within said right and left lower housings; a right bracket coupled to said right lower housing, a left bracket coupled to said left lower housing; at least one bow spring having at least a portion thereof disposed outside of and adjacent to said right and left tubes, said at least one bow spring having an upper end and a lower end, said lower end of said at least one bow spring connected to one of said right and left brackets, said upper end of said at least one bow spring connected to said upper bracket, and said at least one bow spring being bendable and configured to store energy when compressed and return stored energy to said bicycle fork when uncompressed, such that a bicycle, to which the bicycle fork is configured to be attached, is capable of being propelled vertically to lump into the air. 
     
     
       12. The bicycle fork according to  claim 11 , wherein said at least one bow spring comprises two bow springs, wherein said lower end of each of said bow springs is pivotally connected to said right bracket and said left bracket, respectively, and said upper end of each of said bow springs is pivotally connected to said upper bracket. 
     
     
       13. The bicycle fork according to  claim 11 , wherein said at least one bow spring is made of fiberglass/epoxy material. 
     
     
       14. The bicycle fork according to  claim 11 , wherein said at least one bow spring is made of graphite/epoxy material. 
     
     
       15. The bicycle fork according to  claim 11 , wherein said at least one bow spring is made of fiberglass/nylon material.